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Visits & Tours
The Dwan Light Sanctuary
The Dwan Light Sanctuary was designed by Virginia Dwan, Charles Ross, and Laban Wingert in 1996. The circular building features twelve large prisms in the apses and ceiling which spread rainbows across the floor and walls of the interior.  More information about the buidling's design can be found in this article.

The Dwan Light Sanctuary serves both the UWC-USA campus and the public as a quiet place for reflection from 6 am until 10 pm. Visitors are encouraged to arrive during the day to take full advantage of the sunlight filtering through the prisms. Because the Light Sanctuary is located on a private campus, visitors should stop at the Welcome Center to register and receive a visitor's pass.


From Albuquerque, take I-25 north to Las Vegas.
 
Exit at the first Las Vegas exit, #343, and turn left at the end of the ramp. Go .5 miles and take a left onto New Mexico Avenue. (You will see a Santa Fe Railroad red caboose at the intersection.)

Go 1.9 miles. At the first traffic light (there will be an Allsup's convenience store on your left), turn left again onto Hot Springs Boulevard (State Road #65) and continue 4.3 miles.

Turn right when you see the Montezuma Castle. The Montezuma Post Office will be on your right. Please check in at the Moore Welcome Center when you arrive on campus.

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In addition to serving as an accessible meditative space for quiet contemplation, the Dwan Light Sanctuary provides a space for
  • Weekly Yoga
  • Weekly Summer Concerts (classical and meditative guitar)
  • Special Concerts throughout the year
  • Memorials
  • Religious Ceremonies and Celebrations (Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Native American, and Sufi)
  • Sound Healing
  • Restorative Justice Healing Circles
  • Poetry Readings
UWC-USA students are especially appreciative of having a place to reflect, pray, and meditate. The following are some testaments to the student use of the space:

I've used the Sanctuary as a space for meditation, body movement exercises, a place to just think quietly or decompress. When others have not been around, I've also used it as a place to sing, (the acoustics are unbelievable), or to hold specific, important conversations, always of a harmonious nature. The land around the Sanctuary is lovely as well, and I've utilized it similarly. I've gone there to look at the stars, to hike around and explore, to sit and be quiet. I've very much appreciated having that space on campus.
Arielle H., USA-Washington

I am a frequent visitor to the Dwan Light Sanctuary, as are many of my friends, and we consider it as an invaluable refuge in the midst of our busy community. I use the Sanctuary for prayer, reflection, a place of meditation and yoga, and a place for truly private conversations.
Anjali A., Canada

The Light Sanctuary is one of the places which I love the most in UWC-USA. I visited the place about 3-5 times a week. I used it mainly for relaxation and for a place to come and think to myself (escaping from the overwhelming environment of UWC). Overall, I can say that if there were no Light Sanctuary, my life in the UWC would have been much harder. It helped me to overcome many of my daily life problems and inner conflicts.
Ido G., Israel

I went there for prayer every evening after dinner.
Motema L., Lesotho